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“Much better.” I pause, thinking of how I’m going to say it. I didn’t just come here to see Father but to ask her about something I’ve found lately.
“Madre?”
She stops walking and turns to me. “Hmm? Is something wrong?”
I walk closer to her, meeting her by the door of the room I grew up in.
“Can we talk inside?” I nod my head in the direction of my old room.
She looks at me confused, as I open the door and then walks into the room. It smells of dust. I haven’t been here in ages.
I switch on the light to brighten the room. Mother has had all my things arranged neatly.
“I want you to be very honest with me, Mother.”
I walk to my former bedside drawer with a black lamp on it. I pick up the small picture frame on the drawer. It’s a picture of Daniel and me.
“What’s wrong, Alessandro?”
I don’t look into her eyes, as I keep my eyes fixed on the picture. Daniel has his arms around my neck with a big smile on. I remember the day we took this picture at the park.
“Did you ever find out Father had a secret affair with someone named Brielle Dankworth?”
I turn to look at her. Her eyes bulge in shock.
“What?” She walks to the bed and sits on the edge. “Ho… how did you find out?”
I see how she fights her tears back and all I want to do is barge into Father’s room and have him explain himself.
“I found several transactions on her. Old, but I had someone dig up things about her.”
“I had no idea.” Her voice fades slowly.
She looks to the ground, then up to the ceiling. “Your father and I sometimes had our… uhm… differences.” She wipes away a tear as soon as it falls from her eyes.
I feel anger and hate. Both toward Father.
“I’m sorry I brought it up. I just wanted to be sure you had no idea.”
Mother covers with a fake laugh. “Thomas was always good at hiding things from me.”
She stands to her feet, prepared to leave.
“She’s dead,” I blurt.
“Può marcire all 'inferno (He can rot in hell),” she says as she walks out of the room.
I set the picture back in the drawer and fall on my bed.
Daniel was right. I should have stayed with Adriana a little longer.
I stare at my old wardrobe. Nothing has changed inside here. The walls are still bare, with the white curtains closed.
I spot a large brown envelope at the top. I don’t remember leaving it around or keeping any envelopes or files here.
I’ve been gone for so long, but I still remember little memories in this room… Father always yelling, and Mother always comforting me. I have had a strained relationship with my father for as long as I can remember.
I stand to my feet and reach for the envelope. It is covered with dust and feels heavy. I blow the top off and set it on the wooden drawer.
